Agartala, July 6:
Tensions between Tripura’s ruling allies — BJP and Tipra Motha — escalated further on Sunday, as Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma met Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, a day after BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb visited Pradyot at Ujjayanta Palace. The back-to-back high-level engagements have intensified speculation over internal rifts within the Manik Saha-led coalition government.
The friction stems from growing dissatisfaction within Tipra Motha over the alleged inaction on implementing the Tripartite Accord signed in March 2024 and the lack of strong ground-level measures against illegal infiltration, particularly in the wake of the recent Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification in mid May last regarding Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants in the state.
Emerging from Raj Bhavan after the meeting, Pradyot kept details under wraps, stating, “Many things have been discussed. I will say whatever needs to be said, but this is a private meeting and I don’t think it should be discussed in the public domain.”
However, he strongly underlined the issue of illegal immigration, saying, “Infiltration is a serious problem in Tripura. The future of the state and the entire Northeast is at stake. If we do not unite to stop this now, it will be a grave injustice to our next generation, who deserve a better tomorrow.”
Calling for unity beyond party lines, the royal scion appealed to all political outfits to come together to address the issue. “This is bigger than politics. All political parties should jointly fight to stop illegal infiltration in Tripura. It affects not just our state, but the entire Northeast and India,” he said.
On his party’s alliance with BJP and the ongoing talks, Pradyot stated, “I am in regular contact with the Chief Minister. I spoke to him yesterday and will speak again if necessary. We have discussed various matters for the betterment of Tripura.”
Reacting to CM Manik Saha’s statement this morning that the implementation process of the Tripartite Agreement is underway, Pradyot responded with cautious optimism. “Things are in progress — but the results must be visible on the ground. The Chief Minister is aware of the urgency. I have shared my views with him, and he has listened. Now we hope for action.”
The political drama intensified on Saturday after Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma during a press conference threatened to withdraw support from the ruling alliance. Adding to the turmoil he claimed that, BJP MP Kriti Debi Singh Debbarma — Pradyot’s sister and the party’s Agartala candidate — reportedly expressed willingness to resign if the commitments made by both state and central governments are not fulfilled.
The unfolding developments have put the BJP-Tipra Motha alliance under strain, with the spotlight now firmly on whether the coalition can survive the growing dissatisfaction and mistrust over key tribal issues and border security concerns.
